Than Uyen (Lai Chau) – Building a "Safe Watermelon" brand

These days, people in Hang and Tham Phe villages, Muong Kim commune (Than Uyen district) are happier when the watermelon crop is successful, harvested, and well-priced. In particular, with the support of INKOTA (Germany), and the Center for Promoting Development for Women and Children (Hanoi), watermelons grown organically by people have a traceability stamp, creating a "Safe Watermelon" brand in the market.

Text: Branding for "Safe Watermelon"

Together with district and commune officials, we visited the organic watermelon cultivation model of Hang Village. Passing through the rice fields that are ripening yellow, we have just arrived at the watermelon field, witnessing the hustle and bustle and joy of the people here who are collecting watermelons that were to be transported to the district market for sale. Lying among the green of the leaves are succulent large watermelons on the ground.

Text: Surrounded by golden ripe rice fields, the model of organic watermelons growing by the people of Hang village is full of succulent fruit.

Text: Mr. Lim Van Duc – a resident of Hang village excitedly shares: My family planted 2,500m2 of watermelon this crop; This year's watermelon is fruitful, and the fruit is big, sweet, and juicy. For the past few days, the family has collected around 150-200 kg to sell every day, with prices ranging from 12,000 VND to 15,000 VND/kg. It is expected that, at the end of the season, the family's garden will yield over 5 tons of watermelon.

Not only Mr. Duc's family but many households in Tham Phe and Hang villages share the joy of having a successful watermelon crop. As a result, the people of the villages have a high source of income; adding motivation and belief in new crops brings economic efficiency many times higher than traditional crops such as rice and corn.

Text: Hoang Van Xuan – Head of Hang Village shared: "Watermelon trees have been planted since 2020. Realizing that this variety adapts well to the soil, climate, and water source here, growing and developing well, my family and people in the village decided to plant and expand the model. Up to now, there are more than 30 households in the village participating in melon cultivation with an area of 3.5 hectares. Particularly for my family, from a few hundred square meters of initial planting area, it has grown to 1,500m2. With two crops per year, each crop profit is 20 million VND, which is 4-5 times higher than rice cultivation.

This is the second year that the people of Hang and Tham Phe villages have participated in growing watermelons in an organic way in the project implemented by the DWC and funded by INKOTA. Accordingly, 36 households of 2 villages participated in training courses on sales and product promotion skills; transfer science and technology to grow "safe" watermelons; guide on making microbial fertilizers, green compost, and herbal pesticides; and support for making product traceable stamps.

Text: In addition, some households, who are not in the project, are also actively converting low-productivity rice and corn cultivation areas to watermelon cultivation. According to households, watermelons are easy to grow and care for, after about 3 months they can be harvested. For melons to have high yields, the planting and caring process needs to comply with the technical requirements including a well-planned pest control schedule. Currently, 2 villages have expanded the watermelon planting model to 8 hectares. In which, 4.7 hectares of watermelons grown organically have traceability stamps, the yield of watermelons this season is estimated at 20-25 tons/ha.

Text: Mr. Lo Quyet Thang – Chairman of Muong Kim Commune People's Committee said: It can be affirmed that the watermelon model has been bringing high economic efficiency to the people of 2 villages, the economic value of 1 hectare of melons is 4-5 times higher than rice transplantation. In the coming time, we will mobilize other villages in the commune to actively grow watermelons on inefficient agricultural land; accompanying households to develop the economy and enrich the homeland of Muong Kim.

Text: Currently, the people of Hang and Tham Phe villages bring watermelon products to the market that are loved and trusted by the people, especially products with traceability. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa – Than Uyen Town shared: The watermelons of the people of 2 villages are very delicious, nice-fragrant, and sweet, especially this is a safe watermelon, so I am very assured.

With the success of the organic watermelon cultivation model in 2 villages of Muong Kim commune, we believe that the people of the communes in the district will continue to replicate it; thereby increasing income; and creating valuable agricultural products and local brands. Especially, the joy of the people will be multiplied 3 times when watermelons are not only "harvested and well-priced" but also cared for by the local authorities at all levels, connecting other markets for local farmers; building a value chain linked to sustainable commodity production.

Dinh Dong - Ngoc Duy

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